SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Rod Blagojevich took his $31 billion construction and gambling expansion plan straight to a group of lawmakers Wednesday, meeting with downstate House and Senate Democrats to make a direct pitch for their support.

Even though lawmakers hope to get their budget dealings done by the end of next week, some expressed optimism after the meeting.

"Anything's possible," said state Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton. "I could go along with what I heard today."

What they heard was a plan to raise money with new casinos, slot machines at horseracing tracks and a lease of the Illinois Lottery to pay for $31 billion worth of road construction, school projects and university buildings.

The Illinois Senate last year showed some willingness to gamble, approving a plan for new casinos. So state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-Moline, said Blagojevich needs to focus his lobbying efforts on the House.

"He needs to reach out to one member over there, and his name is Speaker Michael Madigan," Jacobs said.

State Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, said if his fellow downstate lawmakers agree to support Blagojevich's plan, they'll have to try to convince Madigan to go along.

Blagojevich's proposal includes gambling ethics controls Madigan has pushed in the past. Phelps said that shows Blagojevich is willing to compromise.

"I really think they are," Phelps said.

But state Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, criticized the $31 billion proposal, which was crafted by Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard and former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Righter said it recycles ideas that haven't found support.

"They didn't sit down and hammer out an agreement," he said.

Even though Democrats control the House and Senate, some Republican votes in the House would be needed to approve the loans necessary to pay for a construction plan. Many want better roads and schools but aren't optimistic.

"No, I don't think it's going to happen," said state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth.

For one, the idea of leasing the Illinois Lottery hasn't gained support in the past. A significant gambling expansion package hasn't found support in the House yet, either.

"The House Democrats have consistently opposed this," said state Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet.

Lawmakers continue to push the construction plan, saying that, in an economic downturn, the state program could create thousands of jobs.

Another motivation is that when state lawmakers spend money on specific projects, the federal government gives them more. If the state doesn't spend its own money, it doesn't get more from Washington.

State Rep. George Scully, D-Flossmoor, said getting federal money should be lawmakers' chief motivation for acting soon.

Jacobs wondered why it couldn't be easier than that. "Why can't they just give us the money?" he said.

In the meantime, the Illinois House approved spending plans, and the Senate is expected to begin approving different budget legislation this week. Whether they'll meet in the middle by the May 31 budget deadline is an open question.

No such deadline exists for a construction plan.

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or 789-0865.